Introduction
A few years ago, actually, maybe, I write a content about my bike. I looked at the components I chose, why I chose them, how I generally felt the build turned out and it was a pretty popular article and still gets pretty consistent views to this day. . So I’m not going to go over all that again. This is Surly Ogre, Rudolph Speedhub, Moloko bars, 27.5 by 3 wheels. If you want all the gory details, I’ll refer you to the original content link on screen and in the description.
Revisiting the Ogre
But lately I’ve had some comments from people out there just saying how do you feel about the bike now? Are you still happy with it? Do you think you’ve made all the right decisions yet? Have you changed anything? And so, coming at it from that angle, I come out here today to revisit the ogre. The big question, of course, is am I still happy with the bike? And the answer is a resounding yes.
Bike’s Versatility and Use
Those of you who watch this channel regularly will know that this is my bike packing bike. It goes out with me on adventure rides, long exploratory day rides, mud and dust, forests and mountains, summer and winter. But outside of articles, it’s just my bike. I don’t have a car anymore, so this is how I go when I go somewhere. And it performs both of these functions incredibly well.
The Joy of Riding
The novelty of having a new bike has well and truly worn off, but still, I can be full of fog and gloom and unmotivated to do anything. I get that bike out, a few turns of the pedals, and there I am, I’m back in it. I love the way it feels, I love the way it rolls, I love the way the world looks out of the saddle. You can’t ask more of a bike than that, I don’t think.
Recent Changes and Adjustments
But having said that, the reason we’re here is because my thinking has changed on a few points. I have changed a couple of things. No big deal. It’s basically the same bike as it was, but with a few minor changes. So let’s take a look at them one by one.
Maxxis Chronicles Tires
I’m still running the Maxxis Chronicles and this may raise some eyebrows as it was probably the most criticized item in that first article. I actually said I thought I wouldn’t get the Chronicles again when I came to replace them. This is my second set of dates so it’s more a case of my mindset changing than the ingredients. They are not the most gripping in the world. They lose traction a bit on the slick, which was my main criticism of them.
Importance of Tire Pressure
But with time, I have come to understand the importance of tire pressure. I never really thought about it in the old days, possibly because I was riding a bike with suspension, probably because I’m not the type of person who cares much about that sort of thing. I think more. But with three-inch tires and a tubeless setup, I’ve really embraced the fact that if you’re going to be riding on sand or gravel, you can lower the pressure, if you know it, up it. To push. Going to ride the tarmac again and stuff.
Reflecting on Tire Performance
And so I think a lot of my initial criticism of the Chronicles came from me wanting to have a tire that performed at the same pressure on every surface. And I don’t think it exists. I look back over the last couple of years of riding and there have been moments when I’ve gone up a steep climb and had to put my foot down and it’s annoying when that happens, but those moments are really the exception. Rather than principle and in fact Chronicles perform very well on a wide range of surfaces. So yeah, I’ve changed my mind about them a bit ironically because I don’t think they make them anymore so it might all be irrelevant but whatever.
TRP Spike Mechanical Disc Brakes
I’m still riding with TRP Spike mechanical disc brakes and I still really like them. When they are tuned they are as good as hydraulics in my opinion but the key is when they are tuned up. I mentioned in my original article that they needed quite a bit of adjustment and I don’t think I really played that point hard enough at the time. If you’re riding regularly, if you’re riding the kind of trails that require 100% brake responsiveness, you’re going to be adjusting them very regularly, not every day. Often, this is just a small adjustment of the barrel adjusters. Sometimes you have to approach the pad adjusters with an allen key.
Maintenance of Disc Brakes
It’s not a big deal. It’s two minutes to the edge of the trail. It’s not a big problem for me. I’m stopping all the time anyway, and I rarely ride the kind of trails where I need knife-edge responsive brakes. But I mention it because, for some, it could be a total deal breaker. If you need to set your brakes and then ride death-defying, rock-strewn singletrack for weeks without thinking about them, then, yeah, they’re probably not the solution for you. But overall, I really like them and I think the kind of simplicity and ease of repair and maintenance in terms of just changing the cables and you have to bleed and do things. What is worth is the small sacrifice. But this is a very personal view and I’m sure will prove controversial in the comments.
Gear Ratio Adjustment
This is the first thing I’ve changed since my initial build. Originally I was at 38 teeth on the chain ring and 16 on the sprocket. But after my Pennine Bridleway ride, I’ll put links up and down in the description. Check it out if you haven’t seen it. It was incredibly difficult, incredibly beautiful, and it made me realize that I care more about being able to climb efficiently than being able to blast at any kind of speed. So I swapped the 16 tooth sprocket for a 17 tooth.
Benefits of Gear Ratio Change
As someone who has never thought that much about the details of gear in the past, I wasn’t sure if it would make much of a difference, but it actually does make an amazing difference. I still spend a lot less time at 14, but I’m able to climb that much better. It keeps making me a little better and it’s a very personal decision, I know, but it works really well for me. I definitely, definitely prefer that kind of ratio I think.
Moloko Bars and Steerer Tube
I still absolutely love Moloko bars. They are fantastic, really comfortable, the broom is perfect for me. No complaints there. I think in the original article I mentioned that I left my steerer tube at stock length because, like I said, I’m not the type of person who has ever thought about that stuff before. Have you thought? I didn’t know what I wanted so I just left it thinking I would cut it later if needed.
Adjusting the Stem
What I found is that I prefer to ride with the stance of a dignified senior going to the shops. I like to sit up very straight, upright, able to look around me, watch the world go by on either side. So I wanted more. So in the end, I changed my stem, which I don’t even remember what it was before, but it was a static one. And I swapped it out for this Richie adjustable, which I’m still tinkering with the exact settings I like, but it gives me a little extra height, lets me sit a little higher, which is is my preferred method of riding. . Not everyone will agree, but it works for me.
The only downside was that with the stem at this angle, my phone doesn’t fit on the small quad lock stem mount I’ve been using for so long. So I had my first cheeky impactful moment.
Quadlock Gear and Shout Out
Some of you may remember that I did a giveaway a while back and Quadlock gave me some stuff to give away. And so I messaged them and just said, I’m getting a new phone. Any chance you could send me a free case and maybe an out front mount too? And they just go, yeah, that’s right. Give us a shout in a article. And they sent me some stuff. So yeah, I’m giving Quadlock a big shout out. Thank you very much for that.
Long-term Use of Quadlock Products
It has been widely appreciated. It’s not a paid endorsement or anything. We don’t have a contract, but I’ve been using Quadlock stuff for years and years, long before they bought my life for free. So I have no problem recommending them even now that they have given me free stuff. If you have a phone and want it to be attached very firmly to something, chances are they have a mount that will work for you. So I’ll break down some links below. Go and have a look at them. It will do me a favor, it will do them a favor. Yes, unfortunately no gain for me, no discount for you. Just a recommendation from me to you for a quality product. God, it all got a bit corporate, didn’t it?
Saddle Replacement
Forward. I don’t remember what I did as a saddler there before that. I think it was a Selle SMP gel, if I remember correctly. That kind of died. Again, this was partly on the Pennine-Bridleway ride. I pushed too hard on this trip, and pushing back on the saddle, all the padding kind of started to separate from the frame, and it became unfixable. So I exchanged it for another cell. I don’t remember exactly what it is. It’s not as padded and gelled as the old one, but it’s still very, very comfortable. Works perfectly. I think there is some truth to it when people say you don’t really need a sponge gel saddle.
Padded Shorts and Comfort
All you need is a saddle that fits your butt and this fit me well. I measured my bones and everything. So this is a big improvement. I’ve also recently gotten back into riding with padded shorts, which I never used to do. I had a couple, but I just, I don’t know. I never liked them. But this winter, I’ve gotten back into riding a lot with padded shorts, and I find them quite cozy and comfortable now. So maybe that makes a difference. who knows But anyway, new saddle, just because I needed a new saddle. No more intelligent insights on this front, I’m afraid. Have somewhere to sit.
Rack Replacement
So we come to the last thing that has changed and that is my rack. Mine was old, it was years old and had put thousands and thousands of hard miles on it. It got to the point where it was held together almost entirely by JB Weld and prayers and it wasn’t really viable anymore. So I finally got a new one. It’s not like anything. This is a Topeak. It’s like 40 quid or something. But like the last one. It’s really strong. It’s really practical. The seat packs are rubbish. Panniers are better. I will die on this hill. So come to me brother. Hit me up in the comments.
Panniers vs. Bike Packing Debate
I mean the whole panniers bike packing debate is kind of weird. I have been clearly and subtly told that I shouldn’t be posting on the bikepacking subreddit because I ride with panniers. I’m constantly flipping back and forth between what is bikepacking, what is cycle touring, what’s the difference, blah, blah, blah, should I make a article on my whole tech. I don’t know if I’ve really got that new to add, but I keep doing a little research. Probably. what do you think Do you want to see me go on a weird philosophical rant about what I think bikepacking is and what I think cycle touring is? Leave a comment. If you do, it may take me into action.
Conclusion
But otherwise, yeah, new rack. I still ride with Rick. I love my rack. I love my paneer. And he is. This is what my bike looks like in 2023. It looks very similar to what it looked like in 2020 or whenever I filmed this original article. And the answers to that will be many and varied, I’m sure. Some of you may be watching, nodding your head in bewilderment and thinking to yourself, yes, I too can ride such a fine ride against the forces of evil. Well played sir. Others of you may be watching in awe, thinking, oh my god, that thing probably weighs a ton. You’re not going to win any sick enduro events on it. Both of these are very accurate ways of looking at it.
